Our venerable father Isidore of Pelusium, in Egypt, priest, who, notable in his teachings, spurning the world and riches, preferred to imitate the life of John the Baptist in the desert, having taken up the monastic state, founded a monastery in Pelusium in the 5th century, and was held in much esteem as a theologian and a guide for souls.
In you, O father, the divine image was strictly preserved; taking up your cross, you followed Christ. You taught us by example how to spurn the flesh, for it passes away, and how to care for the soul, which is immortal. O venerable Isidore, your soul rejoices with the angels.
O glorious Isidore, the Church has found in you another morning star, for you enlighten her with the clarity of your teaching. And she cries out to you: Rejoice, Isidore most blessed, who spiritual knowledge is so revered.
2 Timothy 3: 1-9
Timothy my son: But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny it power. Reject them. For some of these slip into homes and make captives of women weighed down by sins, led by various desires, always trying to learn but never able to reach a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so they oppose the truth–people of depraved minds, unqualified in the faith. But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be plain to all, as it was with those two. You have followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, persecutions that I endured. Yet from all these things the Lord delivered me. In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and have known [the] sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Luke 20:46 – 21:4
At that time, in hearing of all the people, Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of the scribes, who like to parade around in their robes, and love marks of respect in public, front seats at synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. There men are going through the savings of widows while they recite long prayers to keep up appearances. The heavier sentence will be theirs.”
Jesus glanced up and saw the rich putting their offerings into the treasury, and also a poor widow putting in two copper coins. At that he said: “I assure you, this widow has put in more than all the rest. They make contributions out of their surplus, but she from her want has given what she could not afford – every penny she has to live on.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Friday, February 3 –
